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2018 Mile-By-Mile Highway Logs ● 30 Major Routes ● 60 Side Trips ● 15,000+ Miles ● 100+ Maps Large Pull-Out “Plan-A-Trip” Map FREE Access to Digital Edition www.themilepost.com
(Not to Scale)
Old Richardson Highway
Copper River Princess Lodge Milepost V 101.6
Brenwick-Craig Rd. Post Office
Old Richardson Highway
Loop Road
4 Museum Milepost V 100.2
Historic Copper Center garage in downtown Copper Center. (©David L. Ranta,
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copper center
V 100.2 F 261.8 Located on the Old Richardson Highway; 105 miles north of Valdez via the Richardson Highway; 200 miles from Anchorage. Population: 315, unincorporated. Emergency Services: Dial 911. Elevation: 1,000 feet. Private Aircraft: Copper Center NR 2 airstrip, 1 S; elev. 1,150 feet; length 2,200 feet; gravel; unattended. A historical marker at Milepost V 101.9 Old Richardson Highway reads:
“Founded in 1896 as a government agriculture experiment station, Copper Center was the first white
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settlement in this area. The Trail of ’98 from Valdez over the glaciers came down from the mountains and joined here with the Eagle Trail to Forty Mile and Dawson. 300 miners, destitute and lonely, spent the winter here. Many suffered with scurvy and died. Soon after the turn of the century, the Washington–Alaska Military Cable and Telegraph System, known as WAMCATS, the forerunner of the Alaska communications system, operated telegraph service here between Valdez and Fairbanks.”
A post office was established here in 1901, the same year as the telegraph station. Copper Center became the principal settlement and supply center in the Nelchina– Susitna region. Copper Center was first called Kluti-Kaah by the Ahtna Native people. Visit the Ahtna Cultural Center at Milepost V 106.6 to learn more about Ahtna history. Copper Center has a post office. Dining
Alaska River Wrangellers
To Valdez
Klutina River
and lodging at the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge (access via side road west from Milepost V 101.6 and at Old Town Copper Center Inn & Restaurant (formerly Copper Center Lodge; see description in folfol lowing paragraph). A grocery, gas & liquor store is open daily; unleaded gas, propane available. The nearest public campground is Squirrel Creek State Recreation Site, located on the Richardson Highway at Milepost V 79.4.. Try local fishing charter services in Copper Center for campsites as well. The landmark Copper Center Lodge, located on the inner loop road, burned down on May 20, 2012. Built in 1932, Copper Center Lodge had its beginning as the Holman Hotel, and was known as the Blix Roadhouse during the gold rush days of 1897–98. It was the first lodging place in the
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800.426.0050 • princesslodges.com Copper River • Denali • Fairbanks • Kenai • Mt. McKinley 436
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Visitor information available at the George I. Ashby Memorial Museum and Trail of ‘98 Museum Annex, housed in historical cabins located adjacent the Old Town Copper Center Inn. These buildings were spared by the 2012 fire. Operated by the Copper Valley Historical Society, the museum is open daily Monday–Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1–5 p.m., June 1– Labor Day weekend, in summer; season and hours may vary. Early Russian religious articles, Athabascan baskets, telegraph equipment and minerals, copper and gold mining memorabilia, and trapping articles from early-day Copper Valley are on display. Gift shop with locally made items. Free admission, but donations are appreciated! Information boards outside the museum reveal local history. For a good viewpoint of Copper Center, the Klutina River and the Wrangell Mountains, drive up the hill to the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. The view from the observation point in front of the lodge offers fine views on a clear day of the surrounding area and mountains. Copper Center is located on the Klutina River, 1 mile from its confluence with the Copper River. Fishing charters, tackle, riverboat service, jet-boat adventure tours, hunting and fishing guides are available locally like Alaska River Wrangellers. There is a short trail to the Klutina behind the George I. Ashby Memorial Museum; ask permission at the Old Town Copper Center Inn. The Klutina River is popular for its red (sockeye) salmon run from June to early August, and its king salmon run, which peaks in midJuly. Check current fishing regulations.
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A favorite photo subject is the Copper Center City Hall, an old outhouse located next to Jean Rene’ Studio Gallery near the post office. Businessman Bill Wyatt of Valdez tacked the sign on this structure years ago as a joke, and owners Bob and Jeanie Sunder let it stay. Photographers should respectfully avoid parking in or blocking the Sunders private drive. The first church in the Copper River region, the Chapel on the Hill, was built here in 1942 by Vince Joy and U.S. Army volunteers stationed in the area. Mr. Joy built other churches and a Bible college in the area over the years. The log Chapel on the Hill was disassembled in 2010–2011 and reassembled on private property visible from the road. Please do not trespass on private property. Return to Milepost V 100.2 or V 106.1 Richardson Highway
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V 110.8 F 251.2 Tazlina River bridge. Tazlina is Athabascan for “swift water.” The river flows east from Tazlina Glacier into the Copper River. Fishing for reds, rainbow trout and burbot (no bait, single hook only except for burbot sets).
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V 110.9 F 251.1 School Road once led to a Catholic boarding school attended by many who live in the TAZLINA (pop. 260) area. There is no sign of the school remaining. Begin 0.8 mile bike path northbound. V 111 F 251 Tazlina River Trading Post to east; groceries, liquor and gas, hardware, sporting goods, hunting and fishing licenses. Readers of The MILEPOST® have commented that this store has an amazing variety and selection of items. (907) 822-3277.
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T Valdez To V pipeline construction, this area has a church, private homes and Glennallen fire station. Bike path ends northbound. Highway climbs Simpson Hill northnorth bound; views to east of Wrangell Mountains. Mount Drum dominates the skyline to east in clear weather. V 112.3 F 249.7 Steep downgrade southbound to Tazlina River. V 112.6 F 249.4 The Simpson Hill overlook has a long paved parking area east side of highway. A wide, paved access road leads south to large paved turnaround area and excellent viewpoint. On a clear day, the Wrangell Mountains are in view. Sign at viewpoint with an identification diadia gram of the Wrangell Mountains: Mount Sanford (elev. 16,237 feet); Mount Drum (elev. 12,010 feet); Mount Wrangell (elev. 14,163 feet); and Mount Blackburn (elev. 16,390 feet). From Glennallen, it appears as if Mount Drum is the tallest peak, but it is 4,000 feet shorter than Mount Sanford. Visitor information for Wrangell–St. Elias National Park is available at Milepost V 106.6 Richardson Highway. V 115 F 247 Junction of Richardson and Glenn highways. The Hub of Alaska and Copper Valley Visitor Information are located at the northwest corner of the interinter section; 24-hour gas and diesel, convenience grocery, pay phone, food trucks in summer. The Copper Valley visitor information center is a large facility with friendly staff, many exhibits (including a full-sized bear mount), a telephone and gift shop. Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Local hiking trails, fishing and other perper tinent information found here. Next gas is 55 miles north at Milepost V 170. 170
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The Hub of Alaska. See display ad on page 313 in the GLENN HIGHWAY section.
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Tazlina River Trading Post. See display ad this page. V 111.6 F 250.4 Robert Marshall Building to east. V 111.7 F 250.3 Paved turnout before Copperville Road to east. Developed during
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RichaRdson highway
Glenn Highway Junction
To Delta Junction and Fairbanks 4 ay
Copper Center
Milepost V 106.1
©David L. Ranta, staff
To Glennallen
(Continued from page 435) Trail Loop through the balsam poplar, quaking aspen and white spruce trees; interpretive programs usually available in summer. 11:30 a.m. guided trail walk. Crown of the Continent—a 22-minute movie about the Continent park—is shown in the theater building on the hour or upon request from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is also a Junior Ranger Program for kids. The visitor center has a large parking area that accommodates buses and RVs; indoor restrooms; drinking water, benches, picnic tables, bear proof trash cans, phone with free local calls. Bottled water is for sale and hot drinks are available (for a donation) at the Visitor Center. Free WiFi, information boards, a bookstore/gift shop (topographic maps are available for sale here), fireplace with comfortable couch and chairs, and park staff to answer questions on the park and the Copper River Valley region are housed in one building. The park’s museum is nearby in a separate building with exhibit hall. Beautiful view of the Wrangell Mountains from a short interpretive trail behind the center. The Visitor Center is open daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., from early May through September, and on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during October and April. It is closed November through March. Phone (907) 822-5234; website www.nps.gov/wrst/index.htm. Winter travelers are welcomed in winter months at the Administration Building nearby, weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also stop by the Ahtna Cultural Center, located in the visitor center complex. It is open daily in summer. The center has a big fish wheel and log cache on display outside and indoor displays of Native history and culture. V 109.2 F 252.8 Long downhill northbound. V 110 F 252 Tazlina DOT station and Dept. of Natural Resources office. Report forest fires here or phone (907) 822-5534. Begin long uphill southbound. V 110.6 F 251.4 Rest area to east at south end of Tazlina River bridge; large paved parking area, handicap accessible toilets and picnic shelters, dumpster. CAUTION: Riverbank may be hazardous during high water. Watch for hazard signs and barricades.
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Copper River Valley. Rebuilt in 2013-14, it is now called Old Town Copper Center Inn & Restaurant. The historic Copper Center garage across the street offers auto repair by appointment.
Richard
copper opper center enter Loop New Richardson Highway
Copper Center • Copper Center Loop RichaRDson highway
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